Dispenser for nested paper receptacles



April 26,1949- s. c. JOHNSON ETAL 2,468,497

DISPENSER FOR NESTED PAPER RECEPTACLES Filed April 9, 194a 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTORS GcmuaCJor-msofl.

A ril 26, 1949. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,468,497

DISPENSER FOR NESTED PAPER RECEPTACLES Filed April 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I I I i I, V

7T n V INVENTOR5. GERALDC.JOHN5ON.

1 ATTORNEYS.

'lllll g BYALBEZRTA.PEREI MAN- April 26, G c JOHNSON ET AL DISPENSER FOR NESTED PAPER RECEPTACLES Filed April 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet s N N A Pm. m m 5 W 2 0 N E M 2 2 3 M H R P I M H o E m \1 y 7 z y f W H m m 1 R w G.A Y B April 26, 1949. e. c. JOHNSON ETAL DISPENSER FOR NESTED PAPER RECEPTACLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 9., 1948 JNVENTORS .GERA LD C. Jormsou. BYAL sea-FA Pass-WAN.

a5; ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 26, 1949 DISPENSER FOR NESTED PAPER RECEPTACLES Gerald (J. Johnson, Bronxville, and Albert A.

Perelman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Lily- Tulip Cup Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1948, Serial No. 19,956

8 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices for nested paper receptacles; and the invention is especially useful in dispensing conical paper cups :andreceptacles such as sundae dishes. While suitable for other ,purposes and uses the invention is presently intended for use on counters, shelves, tables or the like in the dispensing of conical paper cups and dishes used in soda .fountains, lunch counters, restaurants and the likeplaces wheredrinksand foods are served.

It is customary insuch places to utilize holders .for this type of receptacle; the holders being provided with gripping means to engage and hold a single receptacle therein. Such gripping... holder, in inverted-position, is placed over -the uppermost conical receptacle of a stack of inverted receptacles until it engages the receptacle which may then be withdrawn from the stack. The usual method of employing such gripping holders for individual cups is to place a-stack of inverted receptacles on the counter, without any protecting casing; thus exposing the .lips of the receptacles to dust and dirt with the attendant danger of spreading germs. Such a -procedure also frequently results in withdrawing more than one receptacle from the stack unless .prevented by the hands of the operator. Here- -tofore no satisfactory means has been found of covering .the stack with the tip of the uppermost cup exposed at all times during the depletion from a full stack to -a depleted stack. Such efforts as have been made entail cumbersome bulky devices which are not readily accommodated in the limited space usually available for counter or thelike service.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of variable height for holding a stack of nested receptacles and adapted .to automatically adjust its height in accordance with theheight of said stack.

Another objectis to provide a. counter or the like dispenser for holding and encasing a stack .of nested-paper receptacles in invertedposition and readily releasing individual receptacles therefrom as they are successively withdrawn from the upper end thereof, while retaining the remainder of the stack, wherein the height of the holder progressively decreases in conformity with depletion of the stack of receptacles.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which may be readily adapted for use with receptacles of various sizes and having either rolled .rim .or plain lips.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts embodied, by way of example, in the apparatus hereinafter described as illustrating a present preferred form of the invention, andthe invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with theiaccompanying drawings which show, byway :of example, the present preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in the various views: 7

Fig.1 is a perspective view of the device in its-extended condition with a full stack of cups therein;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in its collapsed condition with a partl depleted stack ofcups therein;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figs. land 2 but with the cups removed;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of said device;

Fig. 5 is a Joottom plan view of a'cap member .of said device; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showingfurth'er details of said device;

Fig. '7 is a somewhat enlarged sectional View taken along a vertical plane passing through' tl'ie diagonal 1-1 of Fig. 3, showing further details of the device in extended condition;

Fig. 8 is an exploded segmental perspective view showing stops for limiting axial and rotative movement of the casing sections relative to each other;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the device in collapsed condition;

Fig. '10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line I0-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig.'11 is a similar view taken at line l'l--ll of'Fig.'9;

Fig. 12 is a similar view taken at of Fig. 9;

Figs. 13-16 are segmental sectional views'illus- 'trating respective cups of varying sizes to be used with rolled rim cups of correspondingly varying sizes;

Fig. 17 is a partial sectional view similarto Fig. 9 but showing the device adapted for and containing rimless receptacles, such as sundae dishes;

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of the cap m'em- 'ber shown in Fig. 17; and

'Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view of the adapter member shown in Fig. 1'7.

described relative to the ribs 29.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the device comprises a base member 28, a plurality of hollow tubular sections 2!, 22 and 23, telescopically disposed with respect to each other and relative to the base 29, and a cap 24 in the form of an annular ring. The full stack of cups is desig-. nated FS and the uppermost cup of the stack is designated C; the full stack maintaining the sections 2!, 22 and 23 in extended position in the manner to be pointed out hereinafter. In Fig. 2 these sections are shown in fully collapsed condition, i. e., with the sections 23, 22 and 2| positioned within the confines of the base 20 and the cap or ring 24 lying closely adjacent the top of the base 20; in which condition the partially depleted stack is designated DS and the uppermost cup C thereof projects outwardly through the ring 24.

The base member 2! preferably is provided with a somewhat enlarged bottom of generally rectangular shape to provide for stability. To facilitate manufacture the base 2E! (Figs. 3 and 4) is made in two parts, i. e., a body or shell 25 and a pedestal 26. The section 2! is freely slidably disposed within the shell 25 and is restrained against rotary motion relative thereto; the section 22 is similarly disposed and restrained with respect to the section 2! and the section 23 is similarly disposed and restrained with respect to the section 22, by means now to be described.

The body or shell 25 of base 28 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 2'! whose internal diameter provides a freely sliding fit with the exterior diameter of the tubular section 2!; and the flange 21 is (see also Figs. 2, 3 and 7) provided with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed grooves or guideways 28 freely receiving a pair of ribs 29 projecting exteriorly of the section 2! and disposed on diametrically opposite sides thereof in parallelism with the axis. In a similar manner the section 2| is provided with an inwardly extending flange 35 whose internal diameter provides a freely sliding fit with the external .diameter of tubular section 22; and the flange 311' is (Figs. 7 and 8) provided with a pair of corresponding guideways such as 3| freely receiving a pair of ribs 32 disposed in the manner above Likewise section 22 and section 23 are respectively provided with a flange 33 having a pair of guideways such as 34 and with a cooperating pair of ribs 35 constructed and arranged in the manner above described relative to the respective pairs of telescoping members 20-2 I, 2 l-22 and 2223. The guiding means just described serves the dual purpose of preventing angular movement of the four members relative to each other and of holding the parts in parallelism during their extension and retraction with respect to each other. Preferably the ribs 29, 32 and 35 are given a slight taper in width to provide a progressively decreasing width from bottom to top to facilitate the movement of the sections 2|, 22 and 23 downwardly under the force of gravity.

The intermediate section 22 is provided (Figs.

. 7, 8 and 9) with an outwardly extending flange 36 of such diameter as to provide a freely sliding fit inside of the section 2! and to come into abutting engagement with the flange 30 of section 2| when the parts have been fully extended. Similarly, the section 23 has a similar outwardly extending flange 31 for cooperative association with the interior of section 22 and with flange 33 in the particulars just described. The several parts may be readily assembled by inserting the section 22 interiorly of the section 2| and. the section 23 interiorly of the section 22 and then affixing the cap or ring 24, which is detachably secured to the top of section 23 by bayonet connections comprising (Figs. 5, 6 and 11) a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 38 carired on the section 23 and a pair of cooperating L-shaped grooves 39 provided in ring 25. The ring 24 is provided with a plurality of outwardly radially extending projections or lugs such as Ml, preferably spaced equidistant to provide oppositely disposed pairs.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the ring is in position the lugs Ml prevent the upper sections 2322 from becoming disassembled. The lugs also provide a convenient means for grasping the ring for removal or assembly. The lower section 2! is next placed in the base member from the top, and it will be noted that it is free to be removed therefrom for the purposes to be later described.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 4, it will be seen that the pedestal member 26 of the base is provided at its lower end with a bottom flange 4| which fits snugly within a seat provided in the lower end of the shell and is secured in fixed position as by screws 42 (Fig. 12). The flange 4| is provided with recesses such as 43 disposed at its respective corners and friction plugs or discs such as 44 are secured therein to provide feet for the device. The top of the pedestal 26 is provided with a head 45 whose external surface is frustro-conical in shape, conforming to the interior shape of the cups to be dispensed and is centrally disposed within the hollow base member in such manner as to receive an inverted stack of cups.

The ring 24 (Figs. 3, 5 and 9) is provided with inwardly extending projections or fingers such as 46, preferably four in number and rounded on their inner ends. These fingers project inwardly of an internal peripheral flange l! of said ring a distance less than the width of the beaded edge of the cup. The base of the flange 41 is adapted to fit a given size cup so as to hold several adjacent cups of the stack (Fig. 9) in register at this point while permitting free withdrawal of individual cups. The fingers 46 are so constructed and arranged as to support the ring 24 and one or all of the sections 23, 22 and 2! dependent from the rim of the uppermost cup of a stack, depending upon its height; while permitting ready withdrawal of one cup at a time.

It will thus be seen that the ring 24 serves the dual purpose of supporting the aforesaid members and providing a stripping means for individual of said cups which may be readily removed by being gripped interiorly of a holder in the manner well known in the art.

A full stack of cups may be inserted in the dispenser by lifting the ring 2 3 and assembled sections 23, 22 and 2! upwardly out of the base 20, placing a stack on the head l5 of pedestal 26, placing the sections 2!, 22 and 23 over the stack, inserting the bottom of the lower section 2| in guided engagement within the hollow base member and the ring over the top of the stack until it comes into supported engagement with the rim of the uppermost cup (Fig. 7) at which time the dispenser is ready for use.

For cups of varying sizes having a rolled lip the ring 24 is removed and replaced by a ring having an internal diameter of corresponding dimengreenersions', .otherwise'nowchange is necessary and: one dispenser; with asset. of I interchangeable rings, is:

adapted to handle cups of a number of different:

sizes: In Figs. 13-16'we have; shown rings for respectivecups of sizes 6 02., 8-02., 10 oz. and

The dispenser i also adapted to handle socalled-sundae dishes or receptacleshavinga plainz. lip'by the mere substitution of a suitable ring.

adapter head 51! has been secured in position ontop'of the head 45 byan axial polygonal pin 5L. The radial webs suchas 53 serving to additionally center theadapter. on..the head 45. In place of the ring. 24,.as shownin- Fig; 9, a ring 24d has been secured to the upper. end of section 23 with the-above. described bayonet connections comprising thelugs suchzas 38 L slots 35d provideddn the ring 2402. The pin 5| is received in the corresponding hole 52' provided in the head.

45v(see also Fig. 3) and the webs 53 (Fig. 17) are conformed to fit the tapered head 65 to hold the adapter firmly in-alignment therewith. The top of. the adapter is provided with a relatively widely flaring fiangerproviding a frustro-conical head 5'? conforming to the. dish receptacles havingv a plain lipof the type illustrated as D, a few of which are. disposed: in stack formation to illustrate the relative. position of the parts when the stack is nearly depleted. In this embodiment the r-ing- 24d is provided with fin-like fingers such as 36d which are inclined on their lower faces to conform to the flare of the head 5% and the plain lip of a cup D and preferably have flat surfaces Ofilll'l'lltGdfiXt-Sllt which provide a support for the ring and dependent parts 23, 22' and 2|. whilepermitting withdrawal of individual dishes from the upper end'of the stack.

From the foregoing, and with particular reference. to Figs. '7 and 8; it will be seen that with a fuilstack Sdisposed in the dispenser the casing sections 23; 22 and zl'will be suspended from the rimmed lip of the uppermost cup C with the lower end of section.2I-' disposed in the shell 21. As a cup C is withdrawn'the sections move downwardly an increment equal to-the thickness of one cup rim; During the first series of such movements the'sections 23, 22 and 2| maintain their extended-relation until thesection 2| has telescoped' to its lowermost position where it rests on the bottom 4|; of 'the base. Upon further removal of cups section. 22 continues to be suspended fromsection 23 and telescopes in section 2| until section 22 restson the bottom 4|: and upon further depletion of the stack section 23 continues to besuspended from the rim or lip of the uppermost cup of the stackuntil section 23 rests upon the bottom ll; the parts then being positioned as shown in Fig. 9, or Fig. 17 where rimless receptacles are being dispensed. Itis noted that during this reduction of the height of the: casing the sections move together in telescoping relation under the force' of gravityand this is facilitatedLand insured-by the parallel g ideways and the limited frictional contact effected by means of the relatively narrow annular fianges'2l, 30, 36; 33-and31 (Figs. '7, 8 and 9). I

In the present embodiment the entire device (except for the screws and feet) is made of molded plastic. However, other embodiments have been made of differentmaterials, and it is tobezunderstood thatinits several broader. aspectsthe in.-

6% ventionisinot to be-limited toranypartieularmaa teriah Havingthus described ourv invention withrparzticularity with reference to its presently pree- 1 ferred form; it will be obvious tothoseskilledin'. the art, after understanding our invention; that? other changes. and. modifications may be.- madetherein without departing from: the spiritand: scopeof our invention; and we aim'in-the appendsed claims tov cover such changesand modifica;- tions as-are within the scopeof the'invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a dispenser for holding a Vertical stack: of inverted nested paper. receptacles, .the' combi nation of'a hollow base having a stack'supporting:

portion centrally disposed therein for holdingsaid stack axially thereof, a plurality of hollow tubular sections telescopically disposed-With"respect to each other and providing a variableheight casing for said stack, each of said sectionsbeing freely slidable axially relative to therespectively contiguous of said sections and the lowermost of said sections being disposed in-s'aid' hollowbase, and an annular member-detachably secured in supporting engagement with the-up-- permost of said tubular sections provided'witlia throat slightly larger than the large diameter of the receptacles to be dispensed and having aplurality of peripherally spaced portions pro-- jecting inwardly of its interior diameter for spaced engagement with the lip of the uppermost: receptacle of said stack for supported engage ment therewith, said tubular sections beingprovided with cooperative portions supporting-said? successive lower sections from the respectively adjacent upper sections.

2. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack" of inverted nested paper receptacles, the combination of a hollow base member having a stacls' supporting portion centrally disposed therein-for holding said stack axially thereof, a plurality-of hollow tubular section members telescopically disposed with respect to each other and said base" and providing therewith a variable-height casing for said stack, each adjacent pair of'said members being' provided with axially extending guide means: comprising ribs disposed on respectively opposite sides of one of said pair of members slidable in cooperating guideways provided in the other of said'pair of members, whereby each of said members is freely slidable axially and restrained against rotation relative to the respectively contiguous of said members,- and an annular member detachably secured in support ing engagement with the uppermost of said tu bular sections and provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced portions projecting inwardly of its interior. diameter for engagement. with the lip of the-uppermost receptacle of said stack, said' tubular. sections being provided with cooperative portions supporting said successive lowensections: fromtherespectively adjacent upper sections.

3. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack. of inverted nestedpaper receptacles, the combination of a hollow base having a stack. support-- ing portion-centrally disposed therein for holding; said stack axially thereof, a plurality of hollow tubular section members telescopically disposed with respect:v to each other and providing: a variable-height casing. for said stack, each. of said members being freely slidable axially relative to. the respectively contiguous of said members, each, adjacent pair ofsaid members being provided with axially extending guide meanscomprising projections disposed on respectively opposite sides of one 'of said pair slidable in cooperating guideways provided in the other of said pair and restraining individual of said members from rotation with respect to the others, and an annular member detachably secured to the top of the upperrn'ost of said tubular sections, said annular member having projecting portions extending outwardly beyond its exterior diameter on re spectively opposite sides to provide engageable means for removing said annular member from its supporting tubular section, said annular member being provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced portions projecting inwardly of its interior diameter for engagement with the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack, said tubular sections being provided with cooperative portions supporting said successive lower sections from the respectively adjacent upper sections whereby said annular member and pendant tubular members may be supported from the uppermost cup of said stack.

4. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack of inverted nested paper receptacles, the combination of a hollow base, a stack supporting pedestal centrally disposed therein for holding said stack axially thereof, and a plurality of hollow tubular sections telescopically disposed with respect to each other and said base and providing therewith a variable-height casing for said stack, said sections having axially disposed guide means provided jointly thereby so constructed and arranged that each of said members is freely slidable axially and restrained against rotation relative to the respectively contiguous of said members, the uppermost of said tubular sections being provided adjacent its top with combined stripping and supporting portions projecting inwardly beyond the interior diameter thereof for engagement with the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack and said tubular sections being provided with cooperative portions supporting said successive lower sections from the respectively adjacent upper sections when said telescopic tubular sections are extended, whereby said tubular sections are adapted to be supported from the uppermost cup of said stack and provide a pendant stripping means.

5. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack of inverted nested paper receptacles, the combination of a hollow base member having an open top and an open bottom, a stack supporting pedestal having a conically shaped head and a flanged lower end secured to the lower end of said base and centering said head axially of said open top, a plurality of hollow tubular section members telescopically disposed with respect to each other and said base and providing therewith a variable-height casing for said stack, each of said members being freely slidable axially in a downward direction relative to the respectively contiguous lower of said members, each of said upper tubular section members being restrained against axial movement upwardly beyond the top of its respectively contiguous lower tubular member and said lower section tubular member being movable upwardly beyond the top of said base, said members being provided with cooperatively engaging spline portions so constructed and arranged as to guide said members in parallel paths of movement, and an annular member detachably secured to the top of the uppermost of said tubular sections, and extending outwardly therefrom for abutting engagement with the top of the adjacent tubular section provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced portions projecting inwardly of its interior diameter for engagement with the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack.

6. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack of inverted nested paper receptacles to be successively removed from the top thereof, the combination of a supporting head whose exterior conforms to the interior shape of said receptacles for receiving the lowermost receptacle of said stack and holding the same in vertical position, a variable-height casing providing a tubular enclosure for said stack and including a series of hollow casing sections in freely slidable telescopic relationship, the lowermost of said sections being held in vertical alignment and exteriorly concentric with said supporting head, the remaining upper of said sections being provided with limit stops disposed to come into abutting engagement when said remaining sections are fully extended one with respect to the other, and an annular member detachably secured to the top of the uppermost of said sections to provide for interchanging similar members adapted to cooperate with receptacles of diiierent dimenscions, said annular member being provided with inwardly extending peripherally spaced projections for engaging the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack, said projections being so constructed and arranged as to support said annular member and dependent sections from said uppermost cup lip while permitting disengagement of said lip and withdrawal of said cup upwardly from said stack, whereby upon diminution of said stack said telescopic sections correspondingly telescope under the action of gravity and the height of said casing decreases in conformity with the stack height.

7. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack of inverted nested paper receptacles to be successively removed from the top thereof, the combination of a supporting head whose exterior conforms to the interior shape of said receptacles for receiving the lowermost receptacle of said stack and holding the same in vertical position, a variable-height casing providing a tubular enclosure for said stack and including upper, lower and intermediate hollow casing sections in freely slidable telescopic relationship, the lower of said sections being held in vertical alignment and exteriorly concentric with said supporting head, said intermediate section having an inwardly extending peripheral flange at its top and an outwardly extending peripheral flange at its bottom, said upper section having an outwardly extending peripheral flange at its bottom for cooperative abutting engagement with the upper flange of said intermediate section, said lower section having an inwardly extending peripheral flange at its top for cooperative abutting engagement with the bottom flange of said intermediate sec tion, and an annular cap disposed over and detachably secured to the top of the upper of said sections to provide for interchanging similar members adapted to cooperate with receptacles of different dimensions, said annular member being provided with inwardly extending peripherally spaced projections for engaging the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack, said projections being so constructed and arranged as to support said annular member and dependent sections from said upper cup lip while permitting disengagement of said lip and withdrawal of said cup upwardly from said stack, whereby upon diminution of said stack said telescopic sections correspondingly telescope under the action of gravity and the height of said casing decreases in conformity with the stack height.

8. In a dispenser for holding a vertical stack of inverted nested paper receptacles to be successively removed from the top thereof, the combination of a supporting head whose exterior conforms to the interior shape of said receptacles for receiving the lowermost receptacle of said stack and holding the same in vertical position, a variable-height casing providing a tubular enclosure for said stack and including a series of hollow casing sections in freely slidable telescopic relationship, the lowermost of said sections being held in vertical alignment and exteriorly concentric with said supporting head, the remaining upper of said sections being provided with limit stops disposed to come into abutting engagement when said remaining sections are fully extended one with respect to the other, and a separate annular member adapted for interfitting engagement with and secured to the top of the upper- 10 most of said sections whereby the same size tubular sections may be utilized with one or the other selected annular member in accordance with a predetermined size of receptacle to be dispensed, said annular member being provided with inwardly extending peripherally spaced projections for engaging the lip of the uppermost receptacle of said stack, said projections being so constructed and arranged as to support said annular member and dependent sections from said uppermost cup lip While permitting disengagement of said lip and Withdrawal of said cup upwardly from said stack, whereby upon diminution of said stack said telescopic sections correspondingly telescope under the action of gravity and the height of said casing decreases in conformity with the stack height.

GERALD C. JOHNSON. ALBERT A. PERELMAN.

No references cited. 

